Sixers Bell Ringer: Go Birds

In a season full of disappointing performances, the Sixers had another one Sunday as their Big 3 wasn’t enough to beat the Giannis-less Bucks.

Sixers Bell Ringer Season Standings:
Tyrese Maxey – 14
Jared McCain – 8
Joel Embiid – 8
Paul George – 7
Guerschon Yabusele – 4
Kelly Oubre Jr – 2
Ricky Council IV – 2
KJ Martin – 2
Justin Edwards – 2
Adem Bona – 1
Quentin Grimes – 1

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The Sixers’ Big 3 was healthy again Sunday. It didn’t matter.

The Milwaukee Bucks, even without Giannis Antetokounmpo, had little trouble dispatching the Sixers 135-127 at Fiserv Forum.

The Sixers had no answer for Damian Lillard (season-high 43 points) and got destroyed on the glass — Milwaukee had 19 offensive rebounds and a 31-10 advantage in second-chance points. The Bucks put up 105 shots compared to 89 for the Sixers. It’s hard to win at any level when you give your opponent 16 extra shots.

Joel Embiid got off to a hot start but scored just three of his 27 points in the second half. Paul George continues to look uncomfortable dribbling the basketball and had just 12 points.

For a full recap, check that out here. The Sixers return home Tuesday to take on the Toronto Raptors. For now, let’s talk Bell Ringer — and Go Birds!

Tyrese Maxey: 39 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 block

Maxey was the only player that was consistently good throughout this game. He was electric in the first half, working the two-man game with Embiid and scoring in multiple ways. The Sixers were very much in the game as Maxey and Embiid combined to score 50 of the Sixers’ 63 points.

In the second half, Maxey mostly kept it going. Embiid did not. And nobody else really picked up the slack. Feels like you can describe a bunch of Sixers losses that way this season.

Guerschon Yabusele: 18 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal

Yabusele returned to the lineup after missing the loss in Detroit. At first, the Sixers had Yabusele in the starting lineup, but the team made a late change and inserted rookie Justin Edwards. Maybe it was a decision to make sure Yabusele could play minutes at the five or to go smaller with Antetokounmpo out of the lineup.

The shame is that it led to Yabusele playing just 24 minutes. Nick Nurse recently said that he started Yabusele because he believed Yabusele was one of the team’s five best players. That’s still the case, despite Edwards giving the team great minutes lately.

After a quiet first half, Yabusele was a part of a faux comeback late in the game. With how poorly Embiid played in the second half, it might’ve made sense to go to Yabu sooner and play faster. I’m not sure what’s going to happen in the second half of the season, but Yabusele should start — or at the very least play starter’s minutes.

Quentin Grimes: 10 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 block

It wasn’t the most efficient night for Grimes, but his motor was noticeable again in his second game with the Sixers.

Grimes is also fearless and makes quick decision, two very welcome things with this current roster.

On a day when the Sixers got their butts kicked on the glass and didn’t necessarily share the ball all that well, Grimes had seven rebounds and five assists. It’s not just effort and athleticism with Grimes, either. It’s clear he has an understanding of how to play and is a plus defender.

Again, I don’t know what’s going to happen in the second half, but Grimes needs to be a big part of it.